Junior from noncompetitive HS looking to improve chances

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey everyone, I'm a junior attending a non-competitive Maryland public school. I transferred there sophomore year, my freshman year I went to a very small private Catholic school, which may have thrown off my stats a bit. I'm white, male, high income (250k+) but will most likely still need some financial aid. Any tips to improve my chances at any of these schools are also appreciated! </p>

<p>Stats </p>

<p>GPA/Rank:
4.0 not weighted (4.0 scale), school has a weird system of weighting, top 10/250ish</p>

<p>SAT:
2180 CR: 800 M: 730 W: 650</p>

<p>AP Classes:
School offers 11, will have taken 10 by end of senior year
Soph- US History (4)
Junior (taking)- Lang, Gov, Enviro, Calc AB
Sr year- Lit, Calc BC, Spanish, Bio, Euro</p>

<p>ECs:
4 Year Varsity Lacrosse (Goalie, will be captain senior year)
Team Maryland Club Lacrosse
Co-Captain of Quizbowl Team
SGA Executive Treasurer (rare as a Junior)
ACE (engineering club) project leader
About 80 community service hours, mostly focused on elderly assistance
Working roughly 10 hrs/week</p>

<p>Awards:
Maryland Scholar Athlete
Competed in a televised episode of local TV show “It’s Academic”, placed 3rd
Nominated to multiple leadership conferences
Principals Honor Roll all 3 years</p>

<p>Schools (In order of interest):
Johns Hopkins (in state)
Washington University (St. Louis)
Georgia Tech
Carnegie Mellon
University of VA
Yale (Big Legacy, 3 or 4 generations)
Northeastern
University of MD (in state)
University of North Carolina</p>

<p>Thank you in advance!
Give me a link and I will be sure to chance back</p>

2

<p>Your SAT is kinda low but when it’s only CR+M, it’s 1330 which is pretty good. Being nominated to leadership conferences and being on honor roll is kinda expected so, that’s shouldn’t be labeled as awards. Try to become more active in your community. I’m a junior and I’m applying to the same colleges as you are. </p>

<p>I would say:
Johns Hopkins (in state)- low reach
Washington University (St. Louis)- low reach
Georgia Tech-match
Carnegie Mellon- low reach
University of VA- match
Yale (Big Legacy, 3 or 4 generations)- match (legacy helps)
Northeastern- match
University of MD (in state)- match
University of North Carolina- low reach</p>

3

<p>I think you meant 1530 for the CR+M, and I agree with everything else, I think that’s my biggest goal for this semester is to get more involved. Thanks!</p>

4

<p>Hey,</p>

<p>Your GPA is perfect, of course, and taking 10 of 11 AP courses is great. Your SAT is great, for YALE and such the math score could be improved, but for UVA it’s fine. As for writing, in general writing isn’t considered as much because the college uses your essay, and the writing section of the SAT isn’t really respected so much. Its good that your high scores are the CR and M, for me Writing was 800 and CR 720 and M 670 so I’m lopsided. So you may want to consider taking the SAT again and getting a good writing score, just because you should try and do your very best no matter what. Also, colleges usually take the highest scores on tests from separate tests dates, in other words getting a lower score on CR shouldn’t hurt.</p>

<p>As for EC pretty good but try to stand out more and be unique. All that said you have a good chance for UVA.</p>

<p>A note about Yale. MANY really really qualified people get turned down, so don’t get your hopes up. Expect rejection. Also, to have a chance, I’d say you need:
-Some more EC’s that REALLY stand out
-An essay that is OVER THE TOP. Starting now wouldn’t be a bad idea!!! Be really unique and creative, and research who else got in Yale and how.</p>

<p>Basically you need to stand out from the crowd to get in Yale. The normal average excellence doesn’t cut it. Do some research on what Yale wants.</p>

<p>I’m sure you will be going to a great college!</p>

5

<p>Thank you for the in depth response quak!
About Yale, I know it is a big reach and it’s not really my first choice, but I was hoping my legacy would help offset my lack of outstanding ECs. Either way I know my ECs are my weak spot and I’m hoping I still have time to improve them. I appreciate the feedback!</p>

6

<p>I think your academics are fine, as long as you can bring the writing score up. Since you scored an 800 on the reading section, I’d be surprised if you score less than ~730 on the writing if you retake it.</p>

<p>I think you know what you need to do about your activities. To be honest, following your passions is your best bet. You’d be surprised where it can take you! If you can, try to get some sort of individual recognition beyond the school level. That will mean a lot. </p>

<p>In regards to Yale, I don’t think legacy status will make much of an impact. You’re applying for financial aid and Yale has one of the lowest legacy admissions rates in the ivy league. That, and it’s very competitive haha! But certainly apply. You stand a chance, regardless of your family background. Also, in-state status does not grant you an admissions privilege at Hopkins. The perceived advantage comes from demonstrated interest of local applicants. Local admitted students tend to have higher yield rates. </p>

<p>Schools (In order of interest):
Johns Hopkins – REACH
Washington University – REACH
Georgia Tech – SAFETY(?)
Carnegie Mellon – MATCH/REACH
University of VA – SAFETY/MATCH
Yale (Big Legacy, 3 or 4 generations) – HIGH REACH
Northeastern – SAFETY
University of MD (in state) – SAFETY
University of North Carolina – MATCH</p>

<p>You certainly stand a chance. Be sure to focus on your essays – since you aren’t winning state/national awards or have any unusual activities/leadership, you will need another way to stand out. </p>

<p>Also, you may want to take a look at Net Price Calculators. I don’t think you’ll qualify for any aid at any of your schools unless there are serious, extenuating circumstances. I hope things work out for you. Don’t be discouraged! You’re a strong applicant so far.</p>

7

<p>Yale still gives a decent legacy bump–maybe doubles your odds. If your family gives $$, so much the better. I tend to agree you won’t get much if any help in the financial aid department. Good luck…</p>

8

<p>Johns Hopkins (in state)- low reach/high match
Washington University (St. Louis)- low reach/high match
Georgia Tech-match
Carnegie Mellon- low reach
University of VA- match
Yale (Big Legacy, 3 or 4 generations)- low reach(idk how significant legacy is there)
Northeastern- High match
University of MD (in state)- match
University of North Carolina- low reach/high match</p>

9

<p>Thanks everyone! and my family donates moderate amounts, my legacy goes:
Great-Great Grandfather
Great Grandfather
Grandfather
Uncle
Another Uncle
Cousin</p>